I have been a proponent of natural/alternative/complementary therapies for quite some time. In fact, over the last 5 years, we've gone from a household of mostly conventional medical treatments to mostly alternative treatments. We use a combination of homeopathy, herbs, amino acids, vitamins, and other nutrients to treat ailments on a daily basis.
Still, it can be hard to remember the details of each remedy and which situations it is best suited for. That's when I turn to my favorite resources for treatment recommendations. I keep Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child
on my bookshelf at the ready for treating the kids, as well as Smart Medicine for Healthier Living, the adult counterpart. These two volumes are arranged in an easy-to-use format, with information on common (and some not-so-common) ailments, along with a variety of treatment options. Having details on conventional medical treatments side-by-side with herbal, homeopathic, and nutritional therapies is very helpful in making informed decisions.
For times when I don't have my books at the ready, I've discovered the University of Maryland Medical Reference on alternative medicines to be a very thorough and handy tool. 
You can find details on specific remedies (such as the echinacea and astragalus that I dosed my kids with today), as well as information on the types of treatments (a very readable history and background of homeopathy is included), and even data on nutrient depletions that may be caused by other drugs. With an iPhone app available, too, the UMMS Medical Reference is an excellent go-to resource with a bounty of balanced information.
As you explore options for your own family, I hope these resources will be helpful to you, too.
Found your blog via your siggy at MDC. Thanks for recommending the books and website. Smart Medicine for Healthier Living is on my Amazon wish list and the UM site is bookmarked on my computer. Great resources!
Posted by: Michelle | December 28, 2009 at 03:24 AM